Firearm holster and method of use

ABSTRACT

A holster for selectively locking a firearm. The holster includes a housing for carrying the firearm, a unit affixed to the holster and a pivotable catch positioned within the housing and the unit for locking and unlocking the firearm. The catch includes two arms extending from a central portion, both pivotable within the housing. The catch further includes a circular section extending from the central portion and selectively engageable with a rod. The rod is translatable within the unit for selective engagement with the catch by application of a magnetic force to the unit. The rod locks the catch into position for locking the firearm and is translatable away from the catch for unlocking the firearm and allowing the firearm to be removed from the holster.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/598,450 filed Dec. 13, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards a method and system for selectively locking a firearm within a holster. Specifically, the holster permits automatic locking of the firearm when placed within the holster and provides a quick-release mechanism for releasing the firearm for use.

BACKGROUND

Firearms are typically secured within holsters for efficient use by citizens, security or police officers and/or military personnel. While common holsters are able to secure a firearm within the holster for preventing the firearm from falling free, there remains a need for a holster and methods of use to automatically secure the firearm within the holster, as well as providing for a quick-release mechanism for releasing the firearm for use.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a holster for selectively locking a firearm is provided. The holster includes a housing defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an entrance slot, wherein the inner surface and the entrance slot define a barrel portion shaped to receive a barrel of the firearm and a guard portion shaped to receive a trigger guard of the firearm, wherein the housing defining the guard portion further defines a catch slit extending parallel to the barrel portion; a unit affixed to the outer surface defining a release portion; a catch extending through a catch slit of the housing forming the guard portion, wherein the catch defines a first arm and a second arm extending from a central portion of the catch, and wherein the catch is pivotable about the central portion upon application of a magnetic force to the release portion between a locked position having the first arm positioned orthogonal to the guard portion and an unlocked position having the first arm positioned within the slit of the housing.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the catch further defines pivot poles extending from opposite sides of the central portion and orthogonal to a plane formed by the first and second arm for coupling to the housing and permitting the pivoting of the catch.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the pivot poles engage the housing for positioning the catch in pivotable relation thereto.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the pivot poles are positioned between, and engaged both, the housing and an internal portion of the unit for positioning the catch in pivotable relation thereto.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the holster further including a spring positioned about one of the pivot poles for providing pivoting bias to the catch towards the unlocked position.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the unit further includes a flexible, magnetic pad positioned internally of the release surface and a rod affixed to the pad and extending into engagement with the catch.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the magnetic pad is configured to flex towards the release surface, and the rod is configured to translate towards the release surface, upon application of a magnetic force to the release portion.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the catch further defines a circular section coextensive with the first arm in the opposite direction of the central portion, and wherein a rod of the unit engages the circular section and the central portion when the catch is in the locked position and the circular section alone when in the unlocked position.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the housing further defines an extension for selectively coupling the housing to a carrier.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, wherein the extension defines a carrier slit for selectively coupling the housing to a carrier.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a method of using a holster is provided. The method includes receiving a firearm through a slot of a housing of the holster; a trigger guard of the firearm engaging a second arm of a catch extending across the housing of the holster; pivoting the second arm towards the housing and a first arm from a slit defined by the housing to within the housing and between the slot and the trigger guard; a rod positioned within a unit attached to the housing translating into engagement with the catch for preventing rotation of the catch, thereby locking the firearm into position.

According to at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the method further includes applying a magnetic force to the unit and translating the rod away from the catch; pivoting the first arm of the catch back towards the slit of the housing, thereby unlocking the firearm from position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing, as well as the following Detailed Description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded views of the holster according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of the holster carrying a firearm according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are top-side views of the catch interacting with the trigger guard of the firearm according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 8 is a bottom-side view of a gloved hand having a magnetized object according to one or more embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

These descriptions are presented with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. These descriptions expound upon and exemplify particular features of those particular embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matters. Although the term “step” may be expressly used or implied relating to features of processes or methods, no implication is made of any particular order or sequence among such expressed or implied steps unless an order or sequence is explicitly stated.

Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing.

The figures depict views of a holster 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The holster 10 may be designed and shaped for carrying a firearm 1 and selectively locking the firearm 1 into position. Although the firearm 1 depicted is a pistol, any firearm 1 may be selectively locked within a holster 10 having the features herein disclosed. The holster 10 may be easily reshaped and reconfigured to fit any firearm 1 design and contour. The basic features of the firearm 1 relevant to the present disclosure at least include a barrel 2, trigger guard 3, trigger 4 and handle 5, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The holster 10 may include a housing 12 for containing at least a portion of the firearm 1 therewithin when the firearm 1 is being carried by the holster 10. The housing 12 may include an outer surface 20 facing externally and an inner surface 22 on an opposing side of the outer surface 20 facing internally. The housing 12 may further define a entrance slot 24 on one end through which the firearm 1 is received for being carried by the holster 10. The barrel 2 of the firearm 1 may rest against the housing 12 at the entrance slot 24. A exit slot 25 may also be defined by the housing 12 and positioned opposite the receiving slot 24. A barrel 2 of the firearm 1 may extend through the exit slot 25 when the firearm 1 is being carried by the holster 10.

The inner surface 22 may define a barrel portion 26 shaped to receive the barrel 2 of the firearm 1 and a guard portion 30 shaped to receive a trigger guard 3 of the firearm 1. The barrel portion 26 may define the exit slot 25 of the housing 12. The combination of the guard portion 30 and the barrel portion 26 may define the entrance slot 24 of the housing 12. The guard portion 30 may further include a catch slit 32 extending through both the inner and outer surfaces 20, 22 of the housing 12. The catch slit 32 may extend along the barrel portion 26 of the housing 12. The catch slit 32 may be positioned parallel to the barrel portion and the barrel 2 of the firearm 1 when the firearm 1 is locked within the holster 10.

The housing 12 may be constructed of two or more separate portions 70, 72 fastened together using housing fasteners 74 and/or by shaping the portions 70, 72 into a fastening configuration, as is depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the housing 12 may be unitarily constructed. The housing 12 may include a number of surface features 76 defined by the outer surface 20 of the housing 12. For example, apertures 80 may be defined by the outer surface 20 for permitting visual inspection of the firearm 1 and/or components of the holster 10. Ridges 82 may be defined by the outer surface 20 for securely engaging or coupling a unit 14 to the portion 70 and preventing tampering therewith.

The housing 12 may further define an extension 62 for selectively coupling the housing 12 to a carrier (not shown). In some embodiments, the carrier and housing 12 are unitarily constructed. In other embodiments, the carrier extends from various portions of the housing. The carrier may be a belt, a clip, ankle strap or shoulder strap. The housing 12 and/or extension 62 may further define an extension a carrier slit (not shown) for selectively coupling the housing 12 to a carrier.

A unit 14 may be coupled or affixed to the outer surface 20 of the housing 12. The unit 14 may be couple or affixed to the housing 12 using unit fasteners 84. The head of the unit fasteners 84 may be positioned facing the interior of the housing 12 to prevent tampering from the exterior. Protective caps may be placed on the head of the fasteners 84 to prevent damage to the firearm 1 during use with the holster 10. The unit fasteners 84 may extend through the guard portion 30 of the housing 12, the internal portion 50 of the unit 14 and engage with the release portion 34 of the unit, as depicted in FIG. 2.

An edge 48 of the unit 14 engaging the outer surface 20 may be configured to align with, and/or snap into placement with, one or more ridges 82 defined by the housing 12. The unit 14 may define a release portion 34 thereon. The release portion 34 may be facing away from the housing 12. The release portion 34 may be shaped for accepting a portion of a user's finger or a wearable being worn by the user on the finger or hand of the user. The wearable may be a ring or a glove including a magnet or object capable of being magnetized 18. The release portion 34 may define a depression 92 shaped and configured for accepting at least a portion of the finger, hand and/or wearable of the user. The mound 94 may be engaged with at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the depression 92 for aligning and positioning the magnet or object capable of being magnetized 18 within the depression 92. FIG. 8 depicts the underside of a gloved hand, wherein the pointer finger portion of the glove 6 has a magnet 18 therein for interacting with the holster 10. The mound 94 may form a closed cover (not shown) about a portion of the depression 92 for disallowing certain accidental contacts with the depression 92. The mound 94 may form a cavity for accepting a hand, finger and/or wearable of the user 4. The mound 94 may further include a magnetic shield, such as a metallic layer, therein for rerouting or blocking external magnetic forces.

Upon placement of a firearm 1 within the housing 14 of the holster 10, the holster 10 may securely lock the firearm 1 into position for being safely transported and for deterring theft of the firearm 1. In some embodiments, sliding the firearm 1 into the holster 10 by placing the barrel 2 within the barrel portion 26 and the trigger guard 3 within the guard portion 30 may automatically trigger locking of the firearm 1 within the holster 10. To allow the firearm 1 to be removed from the holster 10, the firearm 1 must first be unlocked. A user may position the magnet or magnetized object 18 on the release portion 34, and/or within the depression 92 of the release portion 34, for unlocking the firearm 1 and permitting removal, as is described below using the catch 16.

The holster 10 may include a catch 16 positioned within the unit 14 and housing 12 for locking the firearm 1 with respect to the holster 10 when the catch 16 is in a locked position P2 (see FIG. 5) and for permitting the firearm 1 to be removed from the holster 10 when the catch 16 is in an unlocked position P1 (see FIG. 6). The catch 16 may extend and pivot through a catch slit 32 of the housing 12, and in some embodiments the guard portion 30 of the housing 12. The catch 16 may define a first arm 36 and a second arm 40, each arm 36, 40 extending from a central portion 42 of the catch 16. The arms 36, 40 may define an acute angle between the arms 36, 40, the angle facing the interior of the housing 12. The catch 16 may be pivotable about the central portion 42 and the central portion 42 may be at least partially positioned within the catch slit 32 of the housing 12 (see FIG. 7).

When a magnetic force is applied to the release portion 34 and/or depression 92 of the release portion 34, the catch 16 may be pivoted between an locked position P2 and an unlocked position P1, thereby permitting the firearm 1 to be removed from the housing 12. When the catch 16 is in the locked position P2, the first arm 36 may be positioned orthogonal to the catch slit 32 and/or the guard portion 30 of the housing 12 (see FIG. 5). When the firearm 1 is positioned within the holster 10 and the catch 16 is in the locked position P2, the first arm 36 may extend across a portion of the interior of the housing 12, between the trigger guard 3 and the trigger 4 of the firearm 1, and/or between the trigger guard 3 and the entrance slot 24.

When the firearm 1 is positioned within the holster 10 and the catch 16 is in the unlocked position P1, the first arm 36 may form an acute angle with the catch slit 32 and/or guard portion 30, pointing towards the entrance slot 24 (see FIG. 6). In some embodiments, the first arm 36 may, in the unlocked position P1, pivot to a position within the catch slit 32 (see FIG. 7). In either of these embodiments, the trigger guard 3 may be left unobstructed should the user 4 choose to remove the firearm 1 from the holster 10 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The catch 16 may be unitarily constructed, causing the second arm 40 to pivot and reposition whenever the first arm 36 pivots and repositions.

The catch 16 may further define pivot poles 44 extending from opposites sides of the central portion 42. Alternatively, a pivot pole 44 may extending through the central portion 42 of the catch 16. The pivot pole(s) 44 may be positioned orthogonal to a plane formed by the first and second arms 36, 40. The pivot pole(s) 44 may be held into position, while permitting rotation, through engagement with the housing 12 and/or unit 14 for permitting the pivoting of the catch 16 with respect to the housing 12 and/or unit 14 and for positioning the catch 16 in pivotable relation to the housing 12 and/or unit 14. Notably, an internal portion 50 of the unit 14 may engage and position the pole(s) 44 of the catch 16. The holster 10 may further include a spring 52 having coils positioned about one of the pivot poles 44 for providing pivoting bias to the catch 16, biased towards the unlocked position P1. The extensions of the spring 52 that extend from the top and bottom of the coil may be positioned distal from the interior of the housing 12 and proximal the casing 54 for providing the appropriate pivoting force to the catch arms 36, 40.

The unit 14 of the holster 10 may include a number of components for permitting a magnetic force to be applied to the release portion 34 of the unit 14 and for allowing the catch to be pivoted from the locked position P2 to the unlocked position P1. The unit 14 may include a flexible casing 54 housing a magnetic pad 96 therein. Both the casing 54 and the magnetic pad 96 may be positioned within the release portion 34 and/or the internal portion 50 (see FIG. 2). The casing 54 (and therefore magnetic pad 96) may be positioned proximally and underneath the depression 92 of the release portion 34. A release spring 55 may be positioned between the release portion 34 and/or depression 92 and the casing 54 for biasing the casing 54 away from the release portion 34 and/or depression 92 (see FIG. 1).

A rod 56 may be affixed to and extend from, the casing 54 and/or magnetic pad 96 and the rod 56 may extend towards the catch 16. The rod 56 may be parallel and/or coextensive with the first arm 36 of the catch 16 when the catch is in the locked position P2. A rod guide 58 may have one or more cylindrical sections and be positioned about the rod 56 for guiding any linear translation of the rod 56 and ensuring the rod 56 translates accurately. The rod guide 58 may be shaped to be nestingly engaged within a rod guide cavity 59 of the internal portion 50 of the unit 14.

The magnetic pad 96 may be configured to flex, reposition and/or translate towards the release portion 34 and/or depression 92 upon application of a magnetic force to the release portion 34 and/or depression 92. Upon flexing or translation of the pad 96, the rod 56, being affixed thereto, may similarly be translated towards the release portion 34 and away from the catch 16, thereby permitting the catch 16 to be rotated from a locked position P2 to an unlocked position P1.

The central portion 42 of the catch 16 may include a circular section 60 extending therefrom. The circular section 60 may also be coextensive with the first arm 36 in the opposite direction of the central portion 42. The circular section 60 may be a quarter section of a circle or some other section of a circle; a section being geometrically defined by two perpendicular lines within a circle or ellipse, and the circular section 60 of the present invention extends from the central portion 42 and first arm 36 and has a curved perimeter 60C and a straight perimeter 60S. In other embodiments, the section 60 is not circular, the curved perimeter 60C being of any number of shapes, but the straight perimeter 60S remaining straight for engagement with the rod 56.

The rod 56 of the unit 14 may extend from the pad 54 into engagement with the straight perimeter 60S of the circular section 60 when the catch 16 is in the locked position P2. The catch 16 may be biased by the catch spring 52 (see FIG. 1), thereby biasing the straight perimeter 60S into engagement with the rod 56. Once the rod 56 is translated away from the catch 16 be application of magnetic force to the release portion 34 and/or depression 92, the catch 16 is then permitted to pivot to the unlocked position P1. Once the magnetic force is removed, and the catch 16 is in the unlocked position P1, the rod 56 translates back towards the catch 16, but into engagement with the curved perimeter 60C. Once the catch 16 is pivoted from the unlocked position P1 to the locked position P2, the rod 56, being biased by the release spring 55 towards the catch 16, then translates into engagement with the central portion 42 of the catch 16, resting alongside the straight perimeter 60S.

In the locked position P2, the second arm 40 may be positioned at an angle with respect to the first arm 36 for resting upon the trigger guard 3 of the firearm 1. This angle, and/or the shape or thickness of the second arm, may relieve the force the catch spring 52 is creating between the rod 56 and the straight perimeter 60S of the catch 16 when the catch 16 is in the locked position P2. By resting upon the trigger guard 2, the trigger guard 2 accepts the pivoting force creating by the catch spring 52, thereby enabling a smaller magnetic force to be applied to translate the rod 56 away from the catch 14 and unlocking the firearm 1.

In some embodiments, the holster 10 may also include a firearm spring (not shown) positioned within the guard portion 30 of the housing 12 for applying bias to the trigger guard 3 of the firearm 1 and bias the firearm 1 to translate without the housing 12, even if slightly, when the catch 16 is pivoted away from the locked position P2.

Particular embodiments and features have been described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that these descriptions are not limited to any single embodiment or any particular set of features, and that similar embodiments and features may arise or modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of these descriptions and the spirit of the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A holster for selectively locking a firearm, comprising: a housing shaped to receive at least a portion of a barrel and a trigger guard of the firearm through and entrance slot defined by the housing, the housing further defining a slit therethrough for providing access directly to the trigger guard; a catch defining a first arm and a second arm positioned at an acute angle relative to each other, both arms extending from a central portion and through the slit; a release unit affixed to the housing and including a magnetic pad coupled to a translatable rod configured to engage the central portion of the catch, wherein, when a magnetic force is applied to the magnetic, the first arm is configured to pivot between a locked position within the trigger guard and an unlocked position without the trigger guard for permitting removal of the firearm from the holster.
 2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the catch further defines pivot poles extending from opposite sides of the central portion and orthogonal to a plane formed by the first and second arm for coupling to the housing and permitting the pivoting of the catch.
 3. The holster of claim 2, wherein the pivot poles are positioned between, and engaged both, the housing and an internal portion of the unit for positioning the catch in pivotable relation thereto.
 4. The holster of claim 2, further comprising a spring positioned about one of the pivot poles for providing pivoting bias to the catch towards the unlocked position.
 5. The holster of claim 1, wherein the release unit further defines an exterior having a depression for guiding a magnetized object to align with the magnetic pad.
 6. The holster of claim 1, further comprising a rod guide positioned between the magnetic pad and the catch for guiding the translation of the rod.
 7. The holster of claim 1, further comprising a release spring between the magnetic pad and an exterior of the release unit for biasing the magnetic pad towards the catch.
 8. A method of selectively locking a firearm using a holster, comprising: a slot of a housing of the holster receiving a portion of a barrel and a guard of the firearm therethrough; a trigger guard of the firearm engaging a second arm of a catch in an unlocked position wherein the second arm extends within the housing from a slit defined by the housing; pivoting the second arm towards the slit, thereby pivoting a first arm away from the slit and within the trigger guard into a locked position, wherein the second arm is fixed an acute angle to the second arm; a rod positioned within a unit attached to the housing translating into engagement with the catch for preventing rotation of the catch to the unlocked position, thereby locking the firearm into position.
 9. The method of claim 11, further comprising: applying a magnetic force to the unit, wherein the unit includes a magnetic pad coupled with the rod; translating the rod away from the catch; pivoting the first arm of the catch back towards the slit of the housing, thereby unlocking the firearm from position.
 10. The method of claim 11, wherein the catch is engaged with a spring biased to pivot the catch into an unlocked position. 